Lafayette's Lionsgate launches food truck summer series

By Kimberli Turner Colorado Hometown Weekly

Posted:
06/07/2012 06:51:54 PM MDT

The Lionsgate Center, at 1055 South 112th St., off U.S. Highway 287, in Lafayette, kicked off its food truck summer picnic series Wednesday, June 6. Four food and drink trucks were parked in the center's parking lot and those who attended could picnic on the Dove House grounds. The series runs twice a month June through September. (Doug Pike/Colorado Hometown Weekly)
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The nerves that Marie Jenkinson felt before the Lionsgate Center launched its first-ever food truck picnic summer series Wednesday, June 6, were unnecessary -- despite looming clouds and the threat of rain, about 100 people attended the event.

"Our stomachs were in knots all day, 'Are people going to show up?'" Jenkinson, owner of Lionsgate, said she and the center's general manager Amy Atwood wondered.

Jenkinson was pleased with the turnout -- adults, kids and pets gathered on the grounds of the Dove House to eat after purchasing fare from the food trucks that set up shop from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Lionsgate parking lot.

"Everyone was so excited about it and raving about it. I think it's going to grow throughout the summer," Jenkinson said.

Four trucks took part in Wednesday's festivities, including "Route 40 Argentinean Grille," featuring South American food; "Kuechos," with Caribbean-inspired entrees boasting "a truckload of gastronomic delight"; "Yum Cupcake Truck" and the Lionsgate Center's "Party Liquor" vehicle.

There is no admission to get into the events and they are scheduled for the first and third Wednesdays June through September, with the exception of Wednesday, July 4; attendees need only pay for their food with credit card or cash.

The entertainment and activities are a bonus.

"The kids had so much fun. That was the best part about it," Jenkinson said. "They were going nonstop."

Wow Bubbles reps brought gigantic plastic orbs for "xorbing" -- extreme orbing -- in which kids and adults can climb inside and walk or run around in a human-size hamster ball. Wow Bubbles charged $5 for xorbing and Jenkinson said kids were having races across the grounds.

To add to the evening, Lionsgate provided the bean bag game Cornhole and played music. A free keg of root beer was available to the kids while adults could participate in free wine tastings.

Jenkinson said Atwood approached her with the food truck idea after she saw them visit Vista Ridge, drawing a large crowd.

What really spurred the Lionsgate owner to put the idea into action was her desire to teach people about the center. Jenkinson, who has owned Lionsgate since 1990, said she constantly has people visiting Lionsgate, inquiring about weddings and other events, who tell her they've driven by the center at1055 South 112th St., off U.S. Highway 287 in Lafayette, but had never stepped foot past the front gate.

"We get that all the time. (The event) is the perfect combination on a slow night to invite the neighborhood, people driving by, to grab something really yummy from a food truck and get a chance to see where we are and what's behind the fences," she said. "I've always wanted to be able to open ourselves up to more of the community. I thought this was a really easy first step to play with that."

Jenkinson is open to suggestions to transform the food truck events, she said. She'd like to vary the entertainment -- throwing out ideas for live music, including strolling violinists, bands, solo guitarists -- and bring on other activities that attendees could offer. Because the event is free and the Lionsgate doesn't have a budget to pay entertainers, she's encouraging the community to contact her with ideas they might be able to bring to the table.

"We're really just thinking outside the box," she said.

As the summer series grows in popularity, Jenkinson said she might add food trucks for variety. She is also hoping to bring Louisville's Sweet Cow Ice Cream's truck to the next event, which is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20.